The 2025 NFL season is right around the corner, and, as ever, most fans of the 32 teams will be heading into the campaign with renewed optimism. Of course, some fans will also be somewhat downbeat, believing that their team’s front office did not do enough in the offseason to put them into contention.
Nonetheless, while each season might be trumpeted as the “biggest yet,” it is clear that the NFL is growing in stature globally. International sports fans have more access to the product than ever before. But what are the key narratives heading into the new season? Whether you live in Minneapolis, Madrid, Melbourne, or Manila, we think these issues will be significant talking points among NFL fans worldwide over the coming months:
Clash of the Titans
The two teams that are the Super Bowl favorites, lead the NFL playoffs online betting markets, and have the two favorites for the MVP, just so happen to clash in Week 1. The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills have both come up short in the Playoffs in recent years, and many think it is their time to shine. But who will be the AFC’s best?
A Galvanizing Non-Trade?
The Dolphins spent most of August fending off rumors that star WR Tyreek Hill wanted a move away from Miami. By the end of August, Dolphins GM Chris Grier had managed to convince the fanbase – and rival teams – that it wouldn’t happen. He also maintained that keeping Hill was part of their playoff ambitions. It feels like a pivotal non-trade.
A Last Dance
The Aaron Rodgers “experiment” did not work for the Jets, but could the legendary quarterback go out with a bang in Pittsburgh? We don’t think Rodgers will do a Tom Brady as a 40-something-year-old Super Bowl winner, but the Steelers feel like a better fit than the Jets. If Rodgers is in the mood, he could roll back the years and do something special. That’s a big “if,” though.
International Waters
The NFL never received the kind of backlash that the Premier League did when it proposed international games. Yet, it started as a one-off, then a few games per season, and now, in 2025, it’s seven games. It’s brilliant news for NFL fans in other territories, but will we see some pushback from local fans?
Too Many Changes?
Most of the offensive pieces that landed Super Bowl LIX for the Philadelphia Eagles are still in place, but there have also been several departures, especially across the defense. It leaves a sense of unknow for the reigning champions, and questions over whether Nick Sirianni can catch the same type of lightning in a bottle that made the Eagles the most balanced team in the league last season.
Death of a Dynasty May Be Exaggerated
It’s become almost fashionable to cite the Kansas City Chiefs as a force in decline. Sure, they were roundly defeated – embarrassed, even – by the Eagles in February’s Super Bowl, but this is a team that loves to prove critics wrong. Rival fans might not like it, but a 4th consecutive Super Bowl appearance is highly possible.
The Bounce Back Candidates
The 49ers had an incredibly disappointing season last year, almost giving up by late November. They had started the season as co-favorites for the Super Bowl, having played in the previous one. They should improve on their 6-11 record, but will they regain elite contender status?
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